Mod 15; CH 22
A postpartum woman is developing thrombophlebitis in her right leg. Which assessment would the nurse use to assess for thrombophlebitis? Select all that apply.
Assess for redness and warmth in the affected leg. Assess for edema in the affected leg. Assess for a low-grade fever.
In talking to a mother who is 6 hours post-delivery, the mother reports that she has changed her perineal pad twice in the last hour. What question by the nurse would best elicit information needed to determine the mother's status?
"How much blood was on the two pads?"
The nurse observes an ambulating postpartum woman limping and avoiding putting pressure on her right leg. Which assessments should the nurse prioritize in this client?
Assess for warmth, erythema, and pedal edema.
The nurse is providing education to a postpartum woman who has developed a uterine infection. Which statement by the woman indicates that further instruction is needed?
"When I am sleeping or lying in bed, I should lie flat on my back."
A nurse is assessing a client with postpartum hemorrhage; the client is presently on IV oxytocin. Which interventions should the nurse perform to evaluate the efficacy of the drug treatment? Select all that apply.
Assess the client's uterine tone. Monitor the client's vital signs. Get a pad count.
The nurse is monitoring a client who is 5 hours postpartum and notes her perineal pad has become saturated in approximately 15 minutes. Which action should the nurse prioritize?
Assess the woman's fundus.
The nurse notes uterine atony in the postpartum client. Which assessment is completed next?
Assessment of the perineal pad
A 29-year-old postpartum client is receiving anticoagulant therapy for deep venous thrombophlebitis. The nurse should include which instruction in her discharge teaching?
Avoid over-the-counter (OTC) salicylates.
A nurse is caring for a postpartum client diagnosed with von Willebrand disease. What should be the nurse's priority for this client?
Check the lochia.
A woman is 2 weeks postpartum when she calls the clinic and tells the nurse that she has a fever of 101°F (38.3°C). She reports abdominal pain and a "bad smell" to her lochia. The nurse recognizes that these symptoms are associated with which condition?
Endometritis
Which instruction should the nurse offer a client as primary preventive measures to prevent mastitis?
Perform handwashing before breastfeeding.
A woman arrives at the office for her 4-week postpartum visit. Her uterus is still enlarged and soft, and lochial discharge is still present. Which nursing diagnosis is most likely for this client?
Risk for fatigue related to chronic bleeding due to subinvolution
Which recommendation should be given to a client with mastitis who is concerned about breastfeeding her neonate?
She should continue to breastfeed; mastitis will not infect the neonate.
The nurse palpates a postpartum woman's fundus 2 hours after birth and finds it located to the right of midline and somewhat soft. What is the correct interpretation of this finding?
The bladder is distended.
A postpartum client is recovering from the birth and emergent repair of a cervical laceration. Which sign on assessment should the nurse prioritize and report to the health care provider?
Weak and rapid pulse
A 25-year-old nulliparous client presents in active labor. She has had no prenatal care, and her coagulation status is determined. Which result would the nurse identify as placing the client at risk for postpartum hemorrhage?
activated partial thromboplastin time 60 seconds
Which intervention would be helpful to a client who is bottle feeding her infant and experiencing hard, engorged breasts?
applying ice
Which measurement best describes postpartum hemorrhage?
blood loss of 1,000 ml, occurring at least 24 hours after birth
A nurse is caring for a client who has just given birth. What is the best method for the nurse to assess this client for postpartum hemorrhage?
by frequently assessing uterine involution
Various medications are available to help control hemorrhage in the postpartum client. When reviewing the client's history, the nurse notes the client's history of asthma. Which medication if prescribed would the nurse question?
carboprost
While assessing a postpartum woman, the nurse palpates a contracted uterus. Perineal inspection reveals a steady stream of bright red blood trickling out of the vagina. The woman reports mild perineal pain. She just voided 200 mL of clear yellow urine. Which condition would the nurse suspect?
laceration
A client presents to her postpartum appointment with vague reports. The nurse suspects postpartum depression based on which assessment finding?
lack of pleasure
The nurse is assessing the breast of a woman who is 1 month postpartum. The woman reports a painful area on one breast with a red area. The nurse notes a local area on one breast to be red and warm to touch. What should the nurse consider as the potential diagnosis?
mastitis
Quickly determining the cause of postpartum hemorrhaging enables effective treatment. A nurse using the 5 Ts tool will recognize which of the following as potential causes of postpartum hemorrhage? Select all that apply.
tone tissue thrombin
Manual manipulation is used to reposition the uterus of a client experiencing uterine inversion. After the repositioning, which type of medication would the nurse administer as prescribed to the client?
oxytocin agent
Which finding(s) leads the nurse to suspect that a postpartum woman has developed endometritis? Select all that apply.
pain on both sides of the abdomen foul-smelling lochia
Two weeks after giving birth, a woman is feeling sad, hopeless, and guilty because she cannot take care of the infant and partner. The woman is tired but cannot sleep and has isolated herself from family and friends. The nurse recognizes that this client is exhibiting signs of:
postpartum depression.
A woman is experiencing a postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine atony. Which risk factor would the nurse recognize as contributory to this specific problem?
multiparity
The nurse recognizes that the postpartum period is a time of rapid changes for each client. What is believed to be the cause of postpartum affective disorders?
drop in estrogen and progesterone levels after birth
The nurse is administering a postpartum woman an antibiotic for mastitis. Which statement by the mother indicates that she understood the nurse's explanation of care?
"I can continue breastfeeding my infant, but it may be somewhat uncomfortable."
The nurse is assessing a client 48 hours postpartum and notes on assessment: temperature 101.2oF (38.4oC), HR 82, RR 18, BP 125/78 mm Hg. The nurse should suspect the vital signs indicate which potential situation?
Infection
What postpartum client should the nurse monitor most closely for signs of a postpartum infection?
a client who had a nonelective cesarean birth
The nurse is assisting with a birth, and the client has just delivered the placenta. Suddenly, bright red blood gushes from the vagina. The nurse recognizes that which occurrence is the most likely cause of this postpartum hemorrhage?
A cervical laceration
The nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a postpartum woman who has developed DVT after a long and difficult birthing process. The nurse will include instruction on which medication for this client?
Anticoagulants
The nurse is caring for a postpartum woman who exhibits a large amount of bleeding. Which areas would the nurse need to assess before the woman ambulates?
Blood pressure, pulse, reports of dizziness
It is discovered that a new mother has developed a postpartum infection. What is the most likely expected outcome that the nurse will identify for this client related to this condition?
Client's temperature remains below 100.4°F (38.8°C) orally.
The nurse is giving an educational presentation to the local Le Leche league chapter. One woman asks about risk factors for mastitis. Which condition would the nurse most likely include in the response?
Pierced nipple
The father of a 2-week-old infant presents to the clinic with his disheveled wife for a postpartum visit. He reports his wife is acting differently, is extremely talkative and energetic, sleeping only 1 or 2 hours at a time (if at all), not eating, and appears to be totally neglecting the infant. The nurse should suspect the client is exhibiting signs and symptoms of which disorder?
Postpartum psychosis
Which situation should concern the nurse treating a postpartum client within a few days of birth?
The client feels empty since she gave birth to the neonate.
A nurse is caring for a postpartum client who has a history of thrombosis during pregnancy and is at high risk of developing a pulmonary embolism. For which sign or symptom should the nurse monitor the client to prevent the occurrence of pulmonary embolism?
calf swelling
The nurse reviews the history of a postpartum woman G3P3 and notes it is positive for obesity and smoking. The nurse would be especially alert for the development of signs and symptoms of which complication in this client?
deep venous thrombosis
The nurse is administering methylergonovine 0.2 mg to a postpartum client with uterine subinvolution. Which assessment will the nurse need to make prior to administering the medication?
if blood pressure is lower than 140/90 mm Hg
A client in her seventh week of the postpartum period is experiencing bouts of sadness and insomnia. The nurse suspects that the client may have developed postpartum depression. What signs or symptoms are indicative of postpartum depression? Select all that apply.
inability to concentrate loss of confidence decreased interest in life
An Rh-positive client gives birth vaginally to a 6 lb, 10 oz (3,005 g) neonate after 17 hours of labor. Which condition puts this client at risk for infection?
length of labor
A nurse is caring for a client who gave birth vaginally 2 hours ago. What postpartum complication can the nurse assess within the first few hours following birth?
postpartum hemorrhage
The nurse is teaching a client with newly diagnosed mastitis about her condition. The nurse would inform the client that she most likely contracted the disorder from which organism?
Staphylococcus aureus
The nurse is assessing a postpartum client at a 6-week well-care check and notes questionable behavior on assessment. Which behaviors should the nurse prioritize and report to the RN or health care provider?
Restless and agitated, concerned with self and not the infant
The nurse is teaching a client about mastitis. Which statement should the nurse include in her teaching?
Symptoms include fever, chills, malaise, and localized breast tenderness.
What medication would the nurse administer to a client experiencing uterine atony and bleeding leading to postpartum hemorrhage?
Oxytocin